Cursive b
In cursive, the lowercase letter b takes 1 stroke and is a tall letter that reaches the top line. The model on this page is US Traditional, the connected style most American classrooms teach: the pen stays on the paper inside a word, and every letter is drawn to flow into the next. Press Play to watch the letter write itself, then use Step to move one stroke at a time. In English text b is the number 20 most common letter, at about 1.5% of all letters, so it comes up in fewer words than most letters.
The loop goes up before the bowl: climb to the top line, trace back down the same path, then curve out for the belly.
Stroke by stroke
- Start on the baseline at the left side. Sweep up and to the right and make a loop that crosses your own line, ending on the dashed midline at the right side.
Common mistakes
Making the bowl a separate circle, which turns it into a printed b.
b is most often confused with h. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Words with b to practise
Practice
Trace on screen first: press Trace it above and follow the grey letter. Then print the sheet and write the same letter on paper. Writing on paper is what builds the habit.
How b joins to the next letter
In connected cursive the pen leaves b at the midline, a little above the baseline. That exit point decides the connector to the letter that follows. These are the pairs you will write most often.
Words with b to practise
Questions about cursive lowercase b
How many strokes is the lowercase letter b in cursive writing?
1 stroke. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.
Where do I start b in cursive?
Start on the baseline at the left side. Sweep up and to the right and make a loop that crosses your own line, ending on the dashed midline at the right side.
Is cursive b the same in every school?
US Traditional cursive is the connected style most American schools teach. Teachers may use a different model, such as D'Nealian or Zaner-Bloser, so a few letters (the capital G, Q and Z especially) can differ from your school's handbook.
What letter is b confused with?
b is most often confused with h. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Can I print a practice sheet for b?
Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type bbb or a whole word, pick a line size, and print. The sheet has a dark model row, grey tracing rows, dotted rows and blank lines.